2025 Fall Campout

October 25-26 : Enchanted Rock

ENCHANTED ROCK STATE NATURAL AREA is one of the gems of the Texas State Park system, home to a massive pink granite dome (the remains of an ancient deposit of molten magma) that rises 425’ above the surrounding terrain. During the day it has fantastic scenic views of the Texas Hill Country, and at night it is an International Dark Sky site perfect for stargazing. Camping reservations at this park are hard to get. It has been 10 years since Pack 421 last camped here, and we are so happy to finally be coming back!

This is a “family camping” event. Each family will camp in their own tent for one or two nights, depending on when you choose to arrive at the park. Hot meals will be served buffet-style by the Pack for Saturday night dinner and Sunday morning breakfast.

To sign up to go on this campout, go to the How To Sign Up section at the bottom of this webpage. But first, keep reading for full details.

How To Get There

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is 17 miles north of Fredericksburg, and 100 miles west of Austin. Allow 2 hours for the drive from northwest Austin. We will be in campsites 1-18. See the “Arrival & Parking” section below for additional instructions about entering the park.

Here are map app links to our exact campsites: Google / Apple (GPS: 30.496226, -98.823903)

 

Arrival & Parking

A few days before the campout Pack leaders will send out an email requesting vehicle information (license plate, etc.) so that we can pre-register your vehicle with our group.

At the park entry gate, tell the gate attendant that you are “with Cub Scout Pack 421” and that your group leaders have your park passes already at the campsite. They should wave you through. Drive directly to our campsites.

We will be in Campsites 1-18 as shown on this Park Facilities Map (PDF). Campsite 10 near the bathhouse will be our central campsite for the Pack trailer and kitchen.

After you get to the campground, go to the central area near Campsite 10 to get your pre-printed, pre-paid parking pass from the Pack 421 sign-in table. Find the parking pass with your license plate on it and tape it to the front windshield of your vehicle. Look for a Pack leader if you have questions or cannot find your parking pass.

After you have affixed your parking pass, you can start setting up your tent and/or join the ongoing activities.

Tent site selection: You can choose any available open space within Campsites 1-18 to set up your tent, except please keep Campsite 10 and the surrounding area free for our Pack kitchen; and keep Campsites 11 & 12 reserved for AOL den (5th-grade) families; and keep the big open area behind the bathhouse empty for our Pack gatherings and campfire.

Note that our campsites are “walk-in camping”. This means the tent sites are near, but not immediately adjacent to parking. Expect a 50- to 150-yard walk on uneven terrain from the parking lot to your tent site. Bags, totes, or a small wagon can help reduce the number of trips.

State parks are strict about parking, so make sure to park only in designated parking spaces; do not leave cars standing along roadways, on grass, or in non-parking areas.

When To Arrive

You can choose to arrive Friday evening or Saturday morning.

• Friday evening arrival: To maximize your time in the park, you can arrive Friday evening and camp for two nights. Earliest allowed arrival time on Friday at the campsites is 2:00 PM.

• Saturday morning arrival: The park gates open at 8:30 AM on Saturday. You can arrive and start setting up your tent any time after 8:30 AM. Try to arrive by Noon so that you have time to set up your family tent before opening ceremony.

Opening ceremony will be at 1:15 PM in our campground area. All Scouts should be present for opening ceremony, preferably in Class A uniform. If you will not be able to arrive in time for opening ceremony, or if some of your family members will be coming for only the day and not spending the night, please let a Pack leader know in advance.

Campout Itinerary

Friday

• 2:00 PM - Earliest allowed tent set up for Friday-night campers

• 6:54 PM - Sunset

Saturday

• 7:44 AM - Sunrise

• 8:30 AM - Park gates open for Saturday arrival and tent set up

• 11:00 AM - RANGER TALK about park geography and wildlife (cancelled due to a training conflict for the ranger)

• 12:00 PM - Typical arrival time to set up family tent before opening ceremony (eat lunch en route to the park or bring a picnic lunch to eat in the park)

• 1:15 PM - OPENING CEREMONY

• 2:00 PM - JUNIOR RANGER ACADEMY

• 3:00 PM - DEN HIKE & DEN ACTIVITIES

• 6:00 PM - DINNER (Pack provided)

• 6:53 PM - Sunset

• 7:00 PM - S’mores and practice den skits

• 7:30 PM - CAMPFIRE PROGRAM

• 9:00 PM - STARGAZING PARTY (if clear skies)

Sunday

• 7:45 AM - Sunrise (coffee and hot coco)

• 8:30 AM - BREAKFAST (Pack provided)

• 9:30 AM - CLOSING CEREMONY

• 10:00 AM - Strike camp and load up the Pack trailer

• 11:00 AM - Depart for home or more family time in the park

Campground Amenities

The campground has restroom and shower facilities. Potable water is available from spigots at central locations throughout the campground.

There is no electric service in the campground; if you want to recharge devices or need a CPAP at night, bring your own battery packs.

Cellular service is sparse or non-existent inside the park, even for major carriers. Plan accordingly! For example, download offline copies of the maps you will use for the drive, and save an offline copy of this webpage for reference when you arrive.

Food

The Pack will provide Saturday evening dinner and Sunday morning breakfast. Thank you to the 5th-grade AOL den for planning and preparing these meals.

If you will be in the park during other mealtimes, you need to bring your own food for those other meals. Note that many families will bring a picnic lunch to eat in the campground or else grab a bite en route on the drive from Austin. Friday-night campers need to bring their own food and cooking gear for Friday dinner and Saturday morning breakfast.

Food and snacks that you bring in camp should be stored at all times in sturdy bins or your vehicle to deter wildlife. Racoons and wild pigs will shred luggage and tents to get at food, which they can smell even through sealed packaging. Trash and food waste also needs to be secured in appropriate receptacles. If you bring snacks or drinks that other Cub Scouts could perceive as special treats, please be discreet or generous.

The Pack will provide community drinks (water, iced tea, lemonade) from Saturday noon through Sunday morning. Hot coffee, tea, and coco will be provided on Sunday morning. Alcohol is strictly forbidden at all Scouting events.

If anyone in your family has special food requirements, please note it in the comment field when you pay the grub fee for the campout (link at the bottom of this webpage in the How To Sign Up section).

Campfire & Stargazing

We will have a campfire program on Saturday evening after dinner and s’mores. If anyone (youth or adult) would like to lead a campfire song or demonstrate a magic trick, let the Cubmaster know at opening ceremony or sometime during the afternoon. It’s lots of fun! Don’t be shy.

Every Scout will also have the opportunity to tell a few jokes (max 2 per person), but the jokes need to be approved in advance by a den leader or Pack leader. And, as always, each den will be asked to perform a skit, organized with help of the den leader. Start thinking of joke and skit ideas.

If it happens that a burn ban is in effect for Gillespie County during our campout, then our campfire will be powered by propane instead of wood; our propane firepit is almost as good as a real campfire and less of a mess, so we’ll make the best of it. Such is life in Central Texas.

After the campfire, if skies are clear, we will have a stargazing party with telescopes, constellation finding, and mythical storytelling. Dress warmly and bring camp chairs.

Packing

Refer to our standard Packing List on the Pack website for suggestions of what to bring—and what not to bring.

Families should bring their own sleeping gear, including tent and sleeping bags. Walmart and Academy have inexpensive gear of decent quality, but you could also consider borrowing from relatives, neighbors, or friends. Or reach out to other families in your den, or the den and Pack leaders, and we may be able to find gear you can borrow.

For clothing, bring layers so that you can easily add or remove layers as the temperature changes throughout the day. Make sure to bring warm layers and windbreak layers because, even on hot days, it gets surprisingly chilly in the Hill Country outdoors after the sun goes down.

Class A uniforms are expected at the opening and closing ceremonies. At all other times, the Pack 421 t-shirt should be worn, with a jacket or long-sleeve shirt over it if needed.

Closed-toe shoes must be worn at all times on Scout campouts; no Crocs or sandals except when showering. Sturdy lace-up shoes with a good tread will be especially useful at Enchanted Rock because the rock can be steep and slick in places.

GEAR FOR HIKING: Each Cub Scout should bring a fanny pack or small backpack with their six Cub Scout Outdoor Essentials to carry on hikes. Scouts should pack and carry their own essentials so that they can learn about taking responsibility and being prepared.

Mandatory Paperwork

• Med Forms: Every participant (youth and adult) who attends a Cub Scout overnight must have on file with the Pack a hard copy of the Scouting America med forms, dated and signed within the last 12 months. If you did not turn in med forms at a prior event this year, bring copies of the med forms (printed and signed for every member of your family) and turn them in to a Pack leader upon arrival at the campout. Click here for Med Form instructions and download link.

• Safeguarding Youth Training (SYT): Every adult who participates in a Cub Scout overnight is expected to take this online training and provide an updated printed copy of the completion certificate to Pack leaders upon arrival at the overnight. You can check the status of your training and print a certificate online. Click here for SYT instructions and training link.

Policies

• Non-Scout siblings: Non-Scout siblings (toddler to age 17) are welcome to attend Cub Scout campouts. Make sure to include non-Scout siblings in the quantity when you pay your grub fee so that we can accurately determine our headcount for compliance in the campground.

• Adult partner: Every child must be accompanied by at least one parent or legal guardian on the campout. Under certain conditions, a Cub Scout may be accompanied by an adult who is not the parent or legal guardian (e.g., a grandparent or other Pack 421 parent), but there are special Scouting America requirements for this and it needs to be cleared with Pack leaders far in advance (i.e., before paying for or reserving a spot). Email Pack leaders if this applies to you.

• Pets: Pets are not permitted at Scouting events, per national Scouting America policy, even though pets might otherwise be allowed by the campground or venue. Please make arrangements for the care of your pets while you are away at the campout.

• Tent camping: One of the purposes of Cub Scout family camping is to get youth ready for tent camping as an older Scout without a parent. Therefore, the use of travel campers, RVs, and hotels while participating in Cub Scout campouts is strongly discouraged.

Weather Contingency

The campout will probably proceed as planned (or with slight adjustments) if the forecast calls for light showers or intermittent rain. But, if the forecast calls for heavy rain, lightning, thunderstorms, or extreme cold temperatures, then the Pack leaders will decide whether to cancel or reschedule. This decision will be communicated by email by Thursday evening before the campout. In case we do reschedule, the alternate rain dates for this campout are the weekend of November 15-16.

How to Sign Up

NOTE: The sign-up deadline for this campout has passed and the campout is sold out. To be added to the wait list, please contact a Pack leader.

To sign up to attend the campout:

1. Go to the 2025 Fall Campout page at the Pack online store

2. Add a tent fee for Saturday night to your shopping cart

3. Optionally add a tent fee for Friday night to your shopping cart

4. Add a grub fee to your shopping cart, taking care to set the quantity to the number of people in your family (age 5 or older) who will be participating in the campout

5. Click checkout and pay for your shopping cart; you should receive an email confirmation

Make sure your purchase includes a tent fee (one per family per night) and a grub fee (per person for the correct number people in your family) before you check out and pay.

If the grub fee is showing as sold out, then unfortunately we have maxed out our campsite capacity and you should contact Pack leaders to be added to the waitlist.

Email the Pack leaders if you have questions or need help.

Fall 2025 Museum Sleepover

Sep 27-28: Moody Gardens Aquarium

 

Aquarium Pyramid
Moody Gardens Resort
One Hope Boulevard
Galveston Island, TX 77554

Allow 3½ to 4+ hours for travel each way.

Keep an eye on traffic through Houston and plan accordingly. Moody Gardens has plenty of free parking. Try to park near the big BLUE (Aquarium) pyramid.

Families should arrange their own transportation. For more fun (and to help the environment) you could ask another Cub Scout family in your Cub’s den or another den if they’d like to travel together in a carpool.

Museum sleepovers are always the farthest of all Pack 421 outings in any given year. To make the most of your trip to Galveston, consider leaving Austin early enough on Saturday morning to visit other Galveston-area attractions before sleepover check-in (Sat 6:00pm) and/or after sleepover dismissal (Sun 8:00am).

SCHEDULE

The aquarium will be closed and locked to the public the entire time we’re there. We will not have in-and-out privileges or access to our vehicles during the sleepover, except to leave for emergencies.

SAT, 27-SEP-2025

• 6:00pm-6:20pm Gather at pyramid entrance (bring personal gear and paperwork)

• 6:20pm-6:30pm Opening ceremony & announcements

• 6:30pm-7:00pm Take personal gear down to sleeping areas

• 7:00pm-9:00pm Activities & education program

• 9:00pm-9:45pm Pizza snack

• 9:45pm-11:30pm Activities & education program

• 11:30pm Lights out (*see note below)

SUN, 28-SEP-2025

• 7:00am Wakeup call

• 7:00am-7:45am Grab-and-go breakfast

• 7:45am-8:00am Group departure from the pyramid

*The program schedule for museum and zoo sleepovers always go late because the venue’s organizers want all of the kids to be dead tired at lights out. As the parent of a younger Cub this can be quite a shock and challenge—but don’t let it scare you. Cub Scout families have been happily surviving these sleepovers for many years. We might be able to arrange an “early-sleep” option for those who want to go to sleep right after pizza, but this cannot be promised. Please come with an attitude of flexibility.

FOOD & DRINKS

Eat some dinner before you arrive. The provided pizza “snack” will be at 9:00pm and includes 2 slices of pizza, a cookie, and one non-caffeinated beverage per person. You may bring your own individual, prepackaged and sealed snacks (e.g., chips and crackers) to eat as needed or as an alternative for pizza if you have special dietary requirements. Please do not bring sugary drinks or sugary snacks, and please no caffeinated beverages for kids.

The grab-and-go breakfast on Sunday will be muffins and juice (or similar light fare)—probably not be enough to hold over anyone to lunch, so bring snacks for after you’re back in your car or plan to stop somewhere for brunch later in the morning. The aquarium will not provide coffee on Sunday morning, so if you want (or need) coffee to get yourself going, bring your own pre-brewed coffee in an insulated container.

The aquarium limit wants to limit coolers to just one cooler for the whole group. The Pack will bring a big cooler with individual water bottles on ice for everyone to share as needed. If you bring your own personal drink bottle, remember no sugary drinks.

COST & HOW TO SIGN UP

The activity fee for this sleepover is $65 per person (children and adults).

• Minimum age to participate is 5 years old.

• Sign up deadline is Thursday, September 4th.

Headcount is capped at 125 people, so don’t wait to sign up. If we run out of space, we will start a waitlist. Sign up at our Pack online store:

UPDATE: The sign-up deadline has passed for this Event, but you can contact Pack leaders by email to see if waitlist spots are available.

No refunds after September 4th unless the spots can be filled from the waitlist.

Policies

Non-Scout siblings: Non-Scout siblings are welcome to attend Cub Scout overnights as long as they meet the age restrictions of the venue. Minimum age for Moody Gardens is 5 years old.

Adult partner: Every youth must be accompanied by at least one parent/guardian on all Cub Scout overnights. Under certain conditions, a Cub may come with another Pack 421 family or an adult who is not the Cub's legal parent/guardian (e.g., a grandparent), but this needs to be cleared with Pack leaders far in advance (i.e., before paying or reserving a spot). Email Pack leaders if this applies to you.

Required Paperwork

1. Med Forms: Every participant (youth and adult) who attends a Cub Scout overnight must have a medical release and medical history on file in hardcopy with the Pack, dated and signed within the last 12 months. Since the Moody Gardens sleepover is the first overnight for the year, everyone should print fresh copies of their Med Forms (Parts A, B1, and B2) for each member of their family who is going, and give the hardcopies to a Pack leader at the September Pack meeting or, at latest, upon arrival at Moody Gardens.

2. Safeguarding Youth Training (SYT): Every adult who attends a Cub Scout overnight is expected to have taken the SYT online training and provide a printed copy of the completion certificate to the Pack every 12 months. Please bring a hard copy of your current SYT Completion Certificate with you to turn in your Med Forms.

PACKING LIST

This overnight is indoor camping. Pack light. Make sure everything your family needs can be carried in one trip. It's a bit of a walk from the parking to where we will be sleeping. You may use a large cargo duffle with shoulder straps or a small wagon, if necessary.

Essential items:

• Sleeping bag and pillow

• Basic toiletries (e.g., toothbrush, toothpaste, comb)

• Personal medications (adult partner should keep secure)

• A positive attitude and sense of adventure

Recommended items:

• Sleeping pad, air mattress, or cot

• Change of clothes/pajamas for sleeping

• Slippers or sandals for nighttime restroom visits

• Eye mask and ear plugs (highly recommended for light sleepers)

• Personal non-sugary snacks individually wrapped and sealed (optional)

• Personal water bottle (optional, no sugary or caffeinated drinks for kids)

• Personal insulated bottle with coffee or tea (optional, for adult only)

Do NOT bring:

• Items of value

• Selfie sticks

• Electronics, speakers, etc.

• Caffeinated beverages or sugary treats

• Alcohol, cigarettes, or vapes

• Tents or pop-ups

• Pets

Other Things to Know

This event will proceed rain-or-shine.

There are no showers for guest use at the Aquarium.

As an overnight guest, you may re-enter the Aquarium pyramid at no cost when it opens to the public at 10:00am on Sunday morning. However, if you wish to visit either of the other pyramids or other attractions at Moody Gardens, there will be an extra fee. Be aware that all of the pyramids and other attractions at Moody Gardens have limited public opening hours this time of year (e.g., 10am-4pm), even on weekends.

Check out the Visit Galveston website for ideas about other places to visit while you’re in Galveston, before or after the sleepover, if you have time.

Questions?

Send email to Pack leaders

Pack Calendar 2025-26

Click here to download our 2025-26 program calendar as a PDF.

Save the date for major Pack events like the fall and spring campouts, museum sleepover, Pinewood Derby, the Blue & Gold Banquet, and year-end picnic. Participation in these events—as well as consistent attendance at all or most of the Pack and den meetings—is critical to ensuring your child gets the most from Cub Scouts and builds close relationships with other Scouts.

For full event details and calendar updates throughout the year, see our official online calendar in Scoutbook (members only access) and make sure to watch your email for updates and reminders.

Reach out to Pack leaders via email if you have questions.

2025 Spring Campout

⚠️ Bad link… Looking for the page about the 2025 FALL CAMPOUT at ENCHANTED ROCK ? Click here.

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April 5-6 : Colorado Bend State Park

Colorado Bend State Park has beautiful bluffs and hiking trails with spring-fed creeks and waterfalls that run year-round. Our campsite at the bank of the Colorado River will provide convenient access to fishing. Tours will be offered in a natural wild cave by a professional guide for 2nd Grade and older (see the Cave Tour section below, additional fee and timed entry reservation required).

This is a “family camping” event. Each family will camp in their own tent for one or two nights, depending on when you choose to arrive at the park. Hot meals will be served buffet-style by the Pack for Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast.

The sign-up link can be found at the bottom of this webpage in the How To Register section.

• Jump to a section

  • How to get there

  • When to arrive

  • Parking & park passes

  • Campground services

  • Food

  • Activity planning

  • Recommended hikes

  • Cave tour

  • Fishing & wading

  • Campfire, s'mores, stargazing

  • Packing tips

  • Mandatory paperwork

  • Weather contingency

  • Campout timeline

  • How to register

How to get there

Colorado Bend State Park is 20 miles west of Lampasas. Allow at least 2 hours for the drive from northwest Austin to our campsites. The roads as you approach the park are small, one-lane ranch roads, and our campsites are deep inside the park. Make sure to use a map or GPS.

Map links to our exact campsites: Google / Apple (GPS Coordinates: 31.021459, -98.443541) (See the “Parking & Park Passes” section below for additional instructions about entering the park.)

 

When to arrive

You can arrive Friday and camp for two nights to maximize your time in the park, or you can arrive Saturday morning (anytime after 6:00 AM) to set up your tent before opening ceremony.

Opening ceremony will be Saturday 1:00 PM near Campsite 5. All scouts should be at opening ceremony, ideally in their Class A uniform shirt. If you cannot arrive in time to set up your tent before opening ceremony, then you will need to set it up later in the afternoon between activities.

Friday night campers (we’re expecting more at this campout) can arrive and start setting up their tent as early as 2:00 PM on Friday afternoon. Please do not use Campsite 5, as we want to keep that campsite empty for the Pack campfire and other functions. Sunset is 7:54 PM. Note that the park entry gate is locked between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM; to enter the park between those hours requires a gate code that will be shared to those who need it, closer to the date of arrival. Sunrise on Saturday is 7:15 AM.

Parking & park passes

We will be camping in Campsites 1-16. This Park Facilities Map (PDF) has been modified to highlight our campsites and other important locations. After you enter the park, go directly to our campsites to get your pre-printed, pre-paid parking pass from a Pack leader. Parking without a pass can result in a citation and penalty.

A few days before the campout Pack leaders will send out an email requesting vehicle information (license plate, etc.) so that we can pre-register your vehicle with our group at the state park. When you arrive at the entry gate, tell the gate attendant you are “with Cub Scout Pack 421” and that the Scout leaders already have your entry and parking passes at the campsite. They should wave you through.

Our campsites are a 20-minute drive past the park entrance. When you arrive at our campsites, park and immediately find a Pack leader to get your parking pass which must be taped to the inside front windshield of your vehicle. After you have your parking pass, you can start setting up your tent and/or join the ongoing activities.

Note that our campsites are what is called “walk-in camping”. This means the tent sites are near, but not immediately adjacent to parking. Expect a 50- to 100-yard walk on uneven terrain from the parking lot to your tent site. Bags, totes, or a small wagon can help reduce the number of trips.

Campground services

There is no electric service in the campground; if you want to recharge devices or need to run a CPAP at night, bring your own battery packs.

Potable water is available from spigots at central locations in the campground. The nearest spigot to our campsites is in the parking area near the parking for Campsite 7, which is where the Pack trailer will be parked and the Pack kitchen will be set up.

Toilets at Colorado Bend are a bit primitive (like permanent outhouses), but they are generally clean and satisfactory, stocked with toilet paper and hand sanitizer. There are no showers, but the campground has a place to rinse off outside if you want to freshen up.

Cellular service throughout the state park is spotty. Most carriers have a signal only on the hilltops. Emergency landline and satellite communications are available if needed.

Food

Saturday evening dinner and Sunday morning breakfast will be provided by the Pack. Our Bear and Tiger dens are coordinating the meals. Thanks you Bears and Tigers! If anyone in your family has special food requirements, please make a note of it in the comment field for the grub fee when you register to attend (link at the bottom of this webpage).

Depending on your travel plans, the other meals you will need to bring or provide for yourself…

• If you plan to arrive Saturday morning, you could stop for breakfast en route at a restaurant in Lampasas and/or bring a picnic lunch to eat in the park. Keep in mind that the closest restaurants in Lampasas are still about 45 minutes by car from the campground, so plan accordingly to arrive in time to set up your tent and not be late for the 1:00 PM opening ceremony.

• Friday night campers will likewise need provisions for Friday evening and for Saturday breakfast and Saturday lunch. You can bring picnic meals or set up your own cooking gear at your tent to prepare meals. Be aware that if the burn ban is still in effect, you will need to use propane for cooking, instead of wood or charcoal.

All food in camp should be stored in lockboxes or vehicles due to wildlife. Racoons and wild pigs in this park can smell food even through unopened packaging and will ravenously shred tents or bags to get to it. Trash needs to be secured well, too.

If you bring snacks or drinks that other Cub Scouts could perceive as special treats, please be discreet or generous. There will be various drinks available in the jugs at the Pack kitchen from Saturday noon through Sunday morning until we break camp. Alcohol is strictly forbidden at all Scouting events.

Activity planning

There are lots of options for activities on this campout. Unless you are coming Friday night or very early on Saturday morning, you will have to be selective.

Older dens (Wolf and above) will not be able to organize hikes or advancement as a den on this campout because of the way cave tours are being scheduled with mixed, smaller groups. We therefore recommend that families in older dens (Wolf and above) find other families with similar interests and form “family buddy groups” for doing activities together like hiking or fishing. Please avoid going off on you own as a single family if possible; the buddy system in Scouting is not just for individuals. YPT rules must be respected for all family buddy groups.

Please plan your activities to ensure that everyone will be back at the Pack 421 campsite for Opening Ceremony, Saturday Dinner, Sunday Breakfast, and Closing Ceremony (see the Campout Timeline section later on this page for exact times). If your family group is missing at any of these key gathering times, we will get worried and might have to send out a search & rescue party.

Recommended hikes

Colorado Bend has two hiking routes considered highlights of the Texas state parks system. Both of those hikes are described in detail below.

But first, let’s remember that before any hike, every Cub Scout should be reminded to take all six of the Cub Scout Outdoor Essentials. A fanny pack or small backpack to put everything in is recommended.

Also, adults should have a map before starting or leading any hike (“know before you go”). The park’s trail map is linked here for reference: Colorado Bend Trail Map (PDF) (download this map to your smartphone before you come to the park because there is limited cellular service inside the park; paper copies may be available from the park HQ or from Pack leaders when you arrive)

Parking lots for the hikes are highlighted in this Colorado Bend Facilities Map (PDF).

Spicewood Springs Loop:

• This hiking route has breathtaking spring-fed pools and scenic views. From the trailhead, the loop is 3.7 miles and takes about 3 to 3.5 hours. If you don’t have that much time or are with very young children, you can do part of the trail out-and-back, instead of the full loop.

• The terrain on this loop is rocky and steep in places, so watch your footing and keep a close eye on children; running or getting out-of-sight should be sternly discouraged. There are multiple creek crossings, so commit yourself to the idea that shoes worn on this hike will get wet. Children (and probably adults too) should have a spare pair of dry shoes to change into after the hike. All shoes worn on Scouting trips (including for creek crossings) must be securely fitted and have closed toes; no sandals or Crocs. Closed-toe water shoes are okay.

• To get to the Spicewood Springs Trailhead, drive about a half mile down the gravel road from our campsite toward the boat ramp at the southern-most end of the park. The trailhead can be found at the opposite end of the parking lot from the boat ramp. There is plenty of parking. While it seems like you could just walk to the trailhead from the campground, it is far enough that it is probably better to drive. Walking there and back on the campground road by foot burns valuable time that could be better spent on the spectacular hiking trail.

• From the parking lot, hike 0.4 miles down the well-marked trail, which parallels the bank of the river, until the trail splits. The recommended direction around the loop is to hike the Spicewood Springs Trail first (blue on the trail map) until it tees into the Spicewood Canyon Trail (red on the trail map); then return on the Spicewood Canyon Trail to the parking lot.

• Make sure to have a digital or paper copy of the park trail map with you. Trail junctions are well marked, but there are a few places where you may need to search around for the trail, especially at creek crossings. If you can’t see where the trail goes, it is probably somewhere across the creek or on the other side of some bare rocks. Also note that trail markers on this loop may be yellow in places, instead of red or blue, because the park service ran out of the correct colored markers when they made these trails.

Gorman Falls Trail:

• This trail is out-and-back (not a loop) and leads to Gorman Falls, a large and beautiful spring-fed waterfall that empties into the Colorado River. The trail (shown in yellow on the park’s trail map) is 1.5 miles each way and takes about 2-3 hours roundtrip from the trailhead including some allowance for time enjoying the waterfall. It is not worth starting this hike if you do not have enough time to make it to the falls and back.

• To get to the Gorman Falls Trailhead from our campsite, you need to drive 15 minutes back toward the park entrance on the main Park Road. Just before you get to the park entrance there is a well-marked gravel driveway leading to the trailhead. The driveway is rutted but passable for 2WD vehicles. At the trailhead there is a decent size parking lot, but on busy days it can get crowded, so carpooling with another family is recommended if possible.

• Gorman Falls Trail is well marked, but at trail crossings take care to not confuse the Gorman Falls Trail with the Gorman Spring or Gorman Road Trails which are also nearby. The Gorman Springs Trail is a beautiful side trail, but add it to your itinerary only if you are sure you have abundant time for the return hike back to the parking lot and your kids are doing well.

• Terrain on the Gorman Falls Trail is rocky but mostly level until the end where there is a steep and slick section with handrails to get down to the waterfall. Small children may need help on this short section, but they can do it with assistance. The potentially bigger challenge with Gorman Falls Trail is the lack of any shade until the very end. The waterfall itself is a shady oasis, but take plenty of water and good sun protection (hat, sunscreen, etc.) for the hike there and back, even on cloudy days when you might doubt if it will be needed.

Cave tour

A professional cave guide, Jeff Nichols of Nichols Outdoors Adventures, will lead small groups from Pack 421 into Turtle Shell Cave, one of many natural caves inside Colorado Bend State Park. Jeff has offered cave tours in the park for over 8 years under a license from the park service, and he is Youth Protection certified by the BSA. His cave tours have been featured on Texas Daytripper and Texas Monthly. This is a must do activity for Cub Scouts who are old enough!

Eligibility: Adults and children in 2nd Grade or older can participate. If an adult (possibly with a younger sibling) wants to wait outside the cave entrance while a group is inside the cave, they can bring a camp chair and wait under a tree. The amount of time the tour group will be inside the cave is about 45 minutes. You do not need to purchase a tour fee if you plan to wait outside the cave. Every tour will have a professional guide and adequate adult supervision, so you do not have to go inside the cave with your Cub Scout if you really don’t want to. (But you really should go, if you’ve never been in a wild cave before.)

Motivation: Every Scout should explore a wild cave at least once, and this is the perfect “novice cave” for a Cub Scout who is Wolf or older to give it a try. All of the caves in Colorado Bend remain in their wild, natural state, so it is a completely different experience from commercial caves you might have visited in the past. Your child will be so proud and remember it for the rest of their life.

Overcoming Fears: Adventure activities in Scouting are always challenge-by-choice, but don’t let fear of the unknown hold your Cub Scout (or you) back. This wild cave tour is much less scary and much less uncomfortable than your scout’s imagination (or yours) might be making it out to be. Please encourage your Cub Scout to participate, even if it means leaning on the “A Scout is Brave” virtue of the Scout Law a little bit. Here are a few common worries that should not deter your Cub Scout (or you) from participating in this experience:

• Are there bugs in the cave? A few crickets and daddy long legs perhaps, but they are completely harmless to humans and easy to avoid.

• Are there bats? Exactly three solitary bats live in this cave. Their names are Roxanne, Steve, and Bart, and they will either be hibernating or already gone for the summer.

• What if I have claustrophobia? The tour guide will help anybody who needs extra assistance, but claustrophobia is rarely an issue in Turtle Shell Cave because you are never far from an entrance. (There are actually three entrances, but the tour only uses the easiest one.)

• Will I get dirty or wet? Turtle Shell Cave is dry and rocky, so you shouldn’t get excessively dirty, but your clothes and shoes will probably get dusty. The cave has little or no watershed so it doesn’t flood when it rains.

• Can a big person get stuck in the cave? The tallest and heftiest adults in Pack 421 will be able to get around in this cave easily. There is only one tight squeeze between two rocks on the scramble down toward the cave’s entrance, at which point someone with a big gut or wide shoulders might need to maneuver a little bit to slip through, but everyone will get through, no problem.

• Will I have to crawl? Yes, once you are in the cave, the majority of the time is on your hands and knees or sitting to listen to the guide explain features of the cave. But don’t worry, the tour guide will provide everyone with helmets and heavy-duty kneepads so that you really won’t mind the crawling. If your 50-year-old Cubmaster with his bad knees can enjoy the cave tour without pain or regrets, which he has done, then you can too!

What to Bring: The cave guide will supply helmets and heavy-duty kneepads for everyone. Beyond that, you need to bring:

• A headlamp with elastic headband (not a handheld flashlight)

• Closed-toe shoes (no sandals or Crocs)

• T-shirt and long pants (the cave is a steady 72°F year round, so a t-shirt is fine; long pants are recommended so that the kneepads don’t chafe or pinch)

• Gloves are optional but recommended (gardening gloves are best, but any kind will work)

• Backpacks and tote bags are not allowed in the cave but can be left at the cave entrance or in your car. If you want to bring your phone or camera, make sure you have a pocket to secure it in while crawling.

Cave Tour Times: Headcount inside the cave is limited, so multiple time slots will be offered. You can select your time slot when you sign up for the campout via the Pack online store. Tours will be offered on Saturday at 9:30am, 11:00am, 2:00pm, and 3:30pm; and on Sunday at 11:00am. Each tour will take a little over an hour from start to finish, about 45 minutes of which is actually inside the cave.

• Friday night campers are encouraged to sign up for the 9:30am or 11:00am tour on Saturday so that the afternoon tours can be available for those who have to make the trip from Austin on Saturday morning.

• Members of the Bear den should avoid signing up for the 11:00am or 3:30pm tours on Saturday so that you can be available to help set up the Pack kitchen (typically starting at 10:00am) and help prepare supper (typically starting from about 4:00pm). The 9:30am or 2:00pm tours are good choices for Bear families.

Cave Tour Meeting Place: Cave tour participants should meet the cave guide at the Cedar Chopper Trailhead parking lot at the tour start time. The meeting place is highlighted in this Colorado Bend Facilities Map (PDF). Try to get there a little early because the tour will not wait for late arrivals.

• Allow 15 minutes to drive from our campsite to the tour meeting place. Carpooling with another family is recommended, if possible, since the Cedar Chopper Trailhead parking lot can sometimes be busy.

• At the meeting place, your tour guide will be wearing a helmet so you can’t miss him. The walk from the parking lot to the cave entrance is only about 10 minutes. The guide will lead the way after everyone has been kitted out with a helmet and kneepads.

• There are no restrooms at trailhead parking lot or at the cave. Go to the toilet before you leave the campground. And, since you won’t be allowed to carry a pack with water into the cave, take a sip of water before you leave the parking lot to keep you hydrated.

Cave Tour Cost: The fee to participate in the cave tour is $25 per person, nonrefundable. The cave tour will proceed rain or shine. A refund will be issued only if there is lightning or extreme weather.

Cave Tour Liability Waiver: A standard liability waiver must be signed in order to participate, by a parent or legal guardian if the participant is a minor. The guide will have the waiver form for you to sign when he meets you at the Cedar Chopper Trailhead parking lot. If you would like a copy to sign in advance (e.g., so that your kid can travel to the cave tour meeting place and go on the tour with other adults), please let a Pack leader know.

Fishing & wading

Fishing in state parks is legal for all ages without a permit. Bring your own fishing gear.

Cub Scouts must be accompanied by a parent (or be with a buddy and supervised per YPT rules) at all times on the campout. This is especially true near water. Campsite boundaries and these safety rules will be carefully explained to Scouts at opening ceremony.

Colorado River water level is currently quite low due to lack of rain, but in any case, if a child will be wading in water anywhere in the park, they must not be allowed to go in farther than waist deep, per BSA policy. Swimming is only permitted at Cub Scout events if organized as formal program activity with many requirements, which we will not be doing on this trip. If you or your scout want to go swimming, please do it on Sunday as a family activity, after the Pack’s closing ceremony; your pass to the park will remain good for the whole day.

Campfire, s'mores, stargazing

Saturday evening we will have a communal campfire and roast s’mores. If anyone in your family (youth or adult) would like to lead a song or demonstrate a magic trick at the campfire, let the Cubmaster know in advance. Don't be shy! The more variety the better.

As part of the campfire program, each den will be asked to perform a skit, organized with help of the den leader. Scouts will also have the opportunity to tell a few jokes (max 2 per person). Jokes need to be approved in advance by a Pack leader or den leader.

If the burn ban for San Saba County remains in effect, our campfire will be powered by propane instead of wood. Such is life in Central Texas. But our propane firepit is almost as good as a real campfire (and less mess), so we’ll make the best of it.

After the campfire, the Cubmaster will lead a stargazing party if the skies are clear. Colorado Bend has fantastic dark skies, but dress extra warmly for this activity, since it gets cold very quickly when you’re sitting still outside at night in the dark.

Packing tips

Refer to our standard Packing List on the Pack website for suggestions of what to bring—and also what not to bring.

Note that the campground at Colorado Bend is in a deep canyon which often gets colder at night that the temperatures reported for towns nearby. Do not skimp on bringing warm gear for sleeping, plus warm clothing and a jacket for being outside after the sun goes down.

Scouts are expected to wear their Class A uniform at the opening and closing ceremonies. At all other times, the Pack 421 t-shirt should be worn, with a jacket or long-sleeve shirt over it if needed.

Closed-toe shoes must be worn at all times on Scout campouts; no Crocs or sandals except when showering. Every person should bring an extra pair of closed-toe shoes in case their first pair gets wet, especially since some of the most popular trails in this park have creek crossings.

Each Cub Scout should bring a fanny pack or small backpack with their six Cub Scout Outdoor Essentials to carry on hikes. Scouts should pack and carry their own essentials, as much as possible (except perhaps the Lions), so that they can learn about taking responsibility and being prepared.

Mandatory paperwork

There is some paperwork required by the BSA that should be prepared by each family well before departing for the campout.

YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING: All adults staying overnight must complete online Youth Protection Training (YPT) before coming to the campout. This training must be repeated every two years, so if you don’t remember when you last took it, log in to My.Scouting.org to make sure your YPT certification is still valid. NOTE: Additional YPT requirements apply for any adults staying overnight if they are not the parent or legal guardian of a Cub Scout, such as a grandparent, aunt/uncle, or sibling age 18+. If this applies to anybody who will be attending with your family, please inform Pack leaders at least one week in advance so that we can help take care of these additional requirements.

MEDICAL FORMS: Every participant, youth and adult, must have a BSA Medical Form (Parts A, B1, & B2) signed and on file with the Pack. If you turned in med forms for one of the Pack overnights earlier in the 2024-25 school year, we still have it on file and it is good for 12 months. Otherwise, bring a hard copy of completed med forms for each member of your family (youth and adult) and give them to give to a Pack leader upon arrival at the campout.

Weather contingency

We will camp even if the forecast calls for light showers or intermittent rain. But if there is a chance for heavy rain or thunderstorms, or extreme cold temperatures, then canceling or rescheduling might be necessary.

Pack leaders will evaluate the forecast on Thursday evening, April 3, and if they decide we need to cancel or reschedule, we will let everyone know that night by email. The alternate rain dates for this campout is the following weekend, April 12-13. Availability for cave tours on the alternate dates is not guaranteed.

Campout timeline

FRIDAY:

2:00 PM - Earliest allowed campsite setup for Friday campers
7:54 PM - Sunset
10:00 PM - Park entrance gate locked (code required for entry)

SATURDAY:

6:00 AM - Park entrance gate unlocked
6:00 AM - Earliest allowed arrival for Saturday campers
7:16 AM - Sunrise
9:30 AM - Cave tour (option 1)
10:00 AM - Pack trailer arrives, start setting up kitchen
11:00 AM - Cave tour (option 2)
1:00 PM - OPENING CEREMONY
2:00 PM - Cave tour (option 3)
3:30 PM - Cave tour (option 4)
6:00 PM - DINNER (and practice den skits)
7:30 PM - CAMPFIRE (with s’mores)
7:54 PM - Sunset
9:00 PM - Stargazing party (if clear skies)
10:00 PM - Park entrance gate locked (code required for entry)

SUNDAY:

6:00 AM - Park entrance gate unlocked
7:15 AM - Sunrise (coffee and hot coco)
8:00 AM - BREAKFAST
9:00 AM - SCOUT’S OWN SERVICE
9:15 AM - CLOSING CEREMONY
9:30 AM - Strike camp, load up Pack trailer
10:30 AM - Depart for home or more family time in the park
11:00 AM - Cave tour (option 5)
10:00 PM - End of pass validity, must be out of park

How to register

To register:

1. Go to the 2025 Spring Campout page in the Pack online store

2. Add tent fee(s), grub fee, and cave tour reservations to your shopping cart

3. Checkout and pay for your shopping cart; you should receive an email confirmation

Make sure your purchase includes a tent fee (one per family per night) and a grub fee (per person for the correct number people in your family) before you check out and pay.

If the grub fee is showing as sold out in the Pack store, then unfortunately we have maxed out our campsite capacity and you should contact Pack leaders to be added to the waitlist. Similarly, if your desired cave tour time slot is not showing as available, choose a different time slot or contact Pack leaders to be added to a waitlist.

Email the Pack leaders if you have questions or need help.

2024 Fall Campout

October 19-20 : Bastrop State Park

Sign up deadline is Monday, October 14. Sign up instructions at the bottom of this page.

WHERE: Bastrop State Park, 100 Park Road 1A, Bastrop, TX 78602. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours for the drive from northwest Austin depending on traffic. We will be camping in the Deer Run camping area. All campsites have potable water but no electric, so if you have devices that need recharging or power (e.g., CPAP), bring a battery power pack. The campground has restrooms with flushing toilets, running-water lavatories, and showers.

WHEN: Opening ceremony begins at 2:00 PM on Saturday, but you may arrive as early as noon to set up your family tent. Most families try to arrive at least an hour before opening ceremony, although there will be time to set up your tent between activities later in the afternoon if necessary. Our program ends on Sunday morning around 10:30 AM, but your day pass to the park is valid all day, so you are welcome to stay in the park as long as you like on Sunday. For the full program and agenda, see below.

FRIDAY CAMPING (optional): If your family would like to arrive and camp on Friday night, the Pack has reserved some campsites that you may use so that you do not have to move your tent for Saturday. See the sign-up instructions at the bottom of this page for how to register for Friday camping. Keep in mind that you will need to bring your own food and gear for cooking on Friday night and for breakfast and lunch on Saturday. The official program for the campout does not start until the opening ceremony on Saturday afternoon, so you will be on your own until then. (NOTE: Davis Elementary School has its Dolphin Boo Fest on Friday night, so we expect turnout for Friday camping to be light.)

FOOD: The Pack will provide evening dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday, thanks to the AOL den which is organizing the cooking. Grub fee is $12 per person (age 4 and under is free). If anyone has special food needs, please let the AOL den leader know at least 1 week in advance. You may bring your own snacks and drinks, but be discreet (or generous) if any items could be perceived as special treats by fellow Cub Scouts. Alcohol is strictly forbidden at Scout events.

PARKING: We will ask (via email) for your vehicle information a few days before the campout so that we can register your car with our group. When you arrive at the state park, tell the gate attendant that you are with Cub Scout Pack 421 and that the Scout leaders already have your entry and parking pass. They should wave you through. Drive to the the Deer Run camping area (exact campsite numbers will be shared closer to the campout date) and then immediately find a Pack leader to get your pass which must be taped to the inside front windshield of your vehicle.

ACTIVITIES: Activities on this campout will include hiking, stargazing, campfire, s’mores, and working on adventure requirements with your den. We will not be fishing because the main lake at the park is not near our campground and is closed in any case for restoration after a dam failure. Your access pass to the park is good all day on Sunday if you want to stick around after closing ceremony for more hiking or exploring as a family.

CAMPFIRE: We will have a communal campfire. Please talk to the Cubmaster in advance if you, your scout, or your family would like to lead a song or magic trick at the campfire. Don't be shy! It’s lots of fun. As part of the program, each den will be asked to perform 1 skit. Each Scout will also be invited to tell a few jokes, max 2 per scout. (Note: If the burn ban for Bastrop County is still in effect on our campout dates, then the communal campfire will be burning propane instead of wood. Almost as fun, less mess. Such is life in Central Texas sometimes.)

PACKING: Refer to our standard Packing List on the Pack website for suggestions of what to bring and also what not to bring. Scouts are expected to wear their Class A uniform for opening and closing ceremonies. The pack T-shirt should be worn at all other times with a jacket or long-sleeve shirt over it if needed. In addition, each Cub Scout should bring a fanny pack or small backpack with their six Cub Scout Outdoor Essentials to take on a den hike. Closed-toe shoes must be worn at all times in camp and when hiking (no Crocs or sandals except in the showers).

MEDICAL FORMS: Every youth and adult participant must have a BSA Medical Form (Parts A, B1, & B2) on file with our camp Medic. If you turned in forms for the San Antonio Sleepover, we already have them on file and they are good for 12 months. Otherwise, bring a hard copy of the completed med forms and turn them in to a Pack leader upon arrival at the campout. Remember, we need med forms for every person, adult or child, no matter their age.

YOUTH PROTECTION: All adults staying overnight must complete online Youth Protection Training (YPT) before coming to the campout. This training must be repeated every two years, so if you don’t remember when you last took it, log in to My.Scouting.org to make sure your YPT certification is still valid. (NOTE: Additional YPT requirements apply for adults staying overnight if they are not the parent or legal guardian of a Cub Scout, such as a grandparent, aunt/uncle, or sibling age 18+. If this applies to anybody who will be attending with your Cub Scout, please inform Pack leaders at least one week in advance so that we can take care of those additional requirements.)

WEATHER CONTINGENCY: If the forecast calls for light or intermittent rain, then we will likely proceed with the campout. But if there is a high chance for heavy rain or thunderstorms, then we may need to cancel or reschedule. If that happens, we'll let everyone know via email by Thursday evening, October 17. Our alternate rain dates are October 26-27.

CAMPOUT AGENDA:

Sat. NOON - 2:00 PM / Arrive and set up family campsite
Sat. 2:00 - 2:45 PM / Opening ceremony and announcements
Sat. 3:00 - 5:30 PM / Den hike and advancement activities
Sat. 6:00 - 7:15 PM / Dinner and practice den skits
Sat. 7:30 - 9:00 PM / Campfire and s’mores
Sat. 9:00 - 9:30 PM / Stargazing (if clear skies)
Sat. 10:00 PM / Lights out
Sun. 8:00 - 8:45 AM / Breakfast
Sun. 9:00 - 9:15 AM / Scouts Own service
Sun. 9:15 - 9:30 AM / Closing ceremony
Sun. 9:30 - 10:30 AM / Strike camp, cleanup, load trailer
Sun. 10:30 AM / Depart

Sign-up Instructions:

1. Go to the Pack's online store at https://cub-scout-pack-42...uare.site/
2. Find the “Grub Fee - Fall 2024 Campout" item and add it to your cart, increasing the quantity ($12 each) for every person age five or older. Fill out additional questions as required.
3. Find the “SATURDAY NIGHT ONLY - Fall 2024 Campout” store item ($20 per family) and add it to your cart. Fill out additional questions as required.
4. Optionally add the “FRIDAY NIGHT ONLY - Fall 2024 Campout” store item ($20 per family) to your cart.
5. Navigate to your shopping cart. Make sure all items are in the cart with the correct quantity. Then complete payment. You should get an email confirmation after you complete your order. If not, then let us know right away because we need to check that your order was processed correctly.

Contact the Pack leaders if you have any questions or if you need to cancel your reservation. The last day to cancel for a refund of tent and grub fees is Monday, October 14.

San Antonio Zoo Sleepover

September 28-29, 2024

Registration is now closed. Click to join the waitlist and be notified if there is a cancellation.

Looking for forms? Click here to jump to the required forms and training.

🚙 PARKING INFO

Due to another Sunday morning event at the Zoo, we will be parking in the Train Depot Parking Lot, near Starbucks. The address for that parking lot is 3874 N St Mary's St, San Antonio, TX 78212.

As everyone is arriving for the program, you are welcome to drive down the brick path next to the Kiddie Park to drop off gear at the Education Center, but everyone will park at the Train Depot parking lot.

For drop off, the Zoo has given the following advice: "If you see signs that say “Do Not Enter” that is just for people looking for our parking garage or those trying to get to the other side of Brackenridge Park. You are allowed to drive down that pathway. You will come to three bollards with a chain blocking the path. Please wait in front of the 2 right-most bollards."

Our 2024 Fall Overnight Adventure will be at the San Antonio Zoo. This pack activity has a minimum age requirement of 5 or older due to the Zoo's policies. Keep reading for full details.

WHERE: San Antonio Zoo, 3903 N St. Mary’s Street San Antonio TX 78212.

WHEN: September 28-29, starting at 6:30 PM on September 28. The Zoo Educators will meet our group at 6:30 PM or a little prior to 6:30 PM on Saturday, September 28, to get everyone parked, go over expectations, and start the program. The programming concludes at 8:30 AM on Sunday, September 29. Afterwards you are welcome to enjoy the Zoo in the daytime!

FOOD: A pizza dinner will be provided by the San Antonio Zoo. Our breakfast will be your choice of two (2) breakfast tacos. The options are any two of bean & cheese, potato & egg, or bacon & egg (i.e. can order 2 of one kind or mix-and-match). The Zoo has asked us to provide a count of each taco option ahead of time, so please email your breakfast taco selections to chair@pack421austin.org by Sunday, September 15. Please include the names of all the attendees in your family (parent(s), scout(s), and siblings), and their breakfast taco selections. If there are any special dietary needs for anyone in your family, please let us know ASAP so that can be communicated to the Zoo.

PARKING INFORMATION: We will be able to park at The Education Center. The easiest way to find this is to put in the zoo’s main address to your GPS system (3903 N St. Mary’s Street San Antonio TX 78212) and drive down the brick driveway that is to the right of Kiddie Park. From the Zoo: "If you see signs that say “Do Not Enter” that is just for people looking for our parking garage or those trying to get to the other side of Brackenridge Park. You are allowed to drive down that pathway." You will come to three bollards with a chain blocking the path. Please wait in front of the 2 right-most bollards.

ACTIVITES: The basic timeline of what to expect includes:

6:30pm – Welcome! Expectations & check in
6:40pm – Pizza dinner
7:20pm – Animal presentation
7:50pm – Activity
8:20pm – Evening tour
9:40pm – Get ready for bed
6:45am – Rise & shine!
7:00am – Put items in car & move cars to Train Depot parking lot
7:15am – Morning tour!
8:00am – Taco breakfast
8:30am – end of program, enjoy the zoo in the daylight!!

PACKING LIST: Refer to our standard Packing List on the Pack website for suggestions of what to bring (and also what not to bring). This is an indoor sleepover, so no tent needed.

The San Antonio Zoo's list of suggested overnight items includes:

Pillow and sleeping bag or blanket
Air mattress or sleeping pad
Comfortable walking shoes
Basic toiletry items (showers are not available)
Change of clothes for sleeping and the next day

Optional Items:

Camera
Reusable water bottle
Wagon, cart, or rolling suitcase to transport belongings

Prohibited Items:

Tablets
iPod & music
Video games
Other electronics
Food or drink
Weapons

Please do not bring any food or drink items. A water bottle per person is welcome, though.

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FORMS

There are two required forms and one required training for this event. Here are quick links, and you can read more below.

• 1. BSA Medical Forms

  Every youth and adult participant must have a BSA Medical Form (Parts A & B) on file with our camp medic.

  Please complete and print the forms for each family member attending the Fall Overnight.

  These forms need to be completed/updated each year and are valid for 12 months. Even if you filled one out for last year's activities, please fill out a new, updated version for us to have on file in case of emergency.

  Bring the paper copies with you to the Zoo. Turn them in to a Pack leader upon arrival.

• 2. Zoo Consent Forms

  In addition to the BSA Med Forms, the San Antonio Zoo has its own consent form for participants. A blank copy was emailed to you but you can also download one here.
  
  Please bring the paper copies with you to the Zoo to turn in. The Zoo will need a physical copy of the consent form for every family group at the time the program starts on September 28. The Zoo will have blank forms for anyone that might need one, but it is a smoother process when everyone already has it completed by the start of the program.

• 3. Youth Protection Training

  All adults staying overnight must complete online Youth Protection Training (YPT) before any overnight event.

  This training must be repeated every two years, so if you have not taken it recently log in to My.Scouting.org to make sure your YPT certification is still valid and take or retake the training if necessary. The online training module can be accessed at https://www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/. It's entirely online and takes about 75 minutes to complete.

  There are additional new YPT requirements for adults staying overnight if they are not the parent or legal guardian of a Cub Scout (e.g., grandparent, aunt/uncle, sibling age 18+); if this applies to anybody who will be attending with your Cub Scout, please inform Pack leaders at least one week in advance so that we can take care of those additional requirements.

Pack Calendar 2024-25

Save the dates

• Thu, Aug 22 - Join Scouting Night, Davis Elementary School, drop in any time between 6-7:30 PM to get information and meet our volunteer leaders

• Sun, Aug 25 - First pack meeting (rockets!), Covenant UMC, 4-5:15 PM

• Sat-Sun, Sep 28-29 - Sleepover at San Antonio Zoo, minimum age 5 years, arrive by 6:30 PM, depart next morning at 8:30 AM (or stay longer to explore the zoo on your own)

• Sat-Sun, Oct 19-20 - Fall campout at Bastrop State Park, midday to midday

• Sat-Sun, Oct 26-27 - Alternate rain weekend for fall campout

• Sat, Feb 1 - Pinewood Derby Race, morning

• Sun, Feb 23 - Blue & Gold Banquet, evening

• Sat-Sun, Apr 5-6 - Spring campout at T.B.D., midday to midday

• Sat-Sun, Apr 12-13 - Alternate rain weekend for spring campout

• Sun, May 18 - Final pack meeting and year-end cookout, late afternoon

Additional Pack meetings, den meetings, and other events will be posted in the online calendar in Scoutbook (registered members only). See our Scoutbook information page.

It is possible to sync Scoutbook calendars to many popular online calendar systems so that you don’t have to enter Cub Scout events manually. See our Calendar information page for instructions.

Reach out to Pack leaders via email if you have questions.

2024 Spring Campout

March 23-24 : Guadalupe River State Park

Spring Campout sign up is now open. Deadline to sign up is Monday, March 18. Keep reading for full details. Sign up link and instructions at the end.

WHERE: Guadalupe River State Park in the Hill Country west of New Braunfels, a 1.5- to 2-hour drive from NW Austin depending on traffic.

WHEN: Opening ceremony will begin at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 23. You may arrive as early as noon to set up your family's tent. Closing ceremony on Sunday morning should wrap up around 10-10:30 AM.

FRIDAY CAMPING (optional): We have several campsites reserved on Friday night for families that would like an extra night of camping. If interested, add both nights (separately) to your shopping cart before checking out on the Pack Store website. The tent fee is $20 per night (includes parking and park passes for all participants). Don't forget to bring your own meals for Friday dinner and Saturday breakfast and lunch.

FOOD: The Pack will provide Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast, thanks to our Bear and Tiger dens who are organizing the cooking. Food fee will be $10 per person, age 5 and under free. If anyone has special food needs, let the Bear or Lion den leader know at least 1 week in advance. It is also permitted to bring your own snacks and drinks, but please be discreet (or generous) if any items could be perceived as special treats by fellow Cub Scouts.

PARKING PERMIT: When you arrive at the state park, tell the gate attendant that you are with Cub Scout Pack 421 and that the Pack leaders already have your parking pass. They should wave you through. When you get to our camping area, immediately find a Pack leader to get your parking pass and tape it to the inside front windshield of your vehicle. We will be in the Cedar Sage camping area; exact campsite numbers will be shared closer to the campout date. All campsites have water and electric.

ACTIVITIES: Will include hiking, fishing, stargazing, and working on adventure requirements with your den. The river is nearby, but we will not be getting in the water for swimming, paddling, or tubing; if you or your Cub Scout would like to engage in those aquatic activities, please do it as a family only before opening ceremony or after closing ceremony. The park pass is valid all day Saturday and Sunday.

CAMPFIRE: We'll do den skits and jokes (max 2 per Scout), as always. Be thinking about what you'd like to do. In addition, if any adults, Cub Scouts, or families would like to volunteer to lead a favorite campfire song, special skit, magic trick, or stunt, please reach out to the Cubmaster in advance to discuss what you have in mind. All ideas welcome! C'mon, don't be shy.

PACKING: Refer to our standard Packing List on the Pack website for suggestions of what to bring (and also what not to bring). Scouts are expected to wear their Class A uniform for opening and closing ceremonies. The pack T-shirt should be worn at all other times (with a jacket or long-sleeve shirt over it if needed). Each person should bring their "outdoor essentials" (water bottle, snack, personal first aid kit, sun protection, etc.) in a small backpack for day hiking. Closed-toe shoes must be worn in camp and when hiking (no Crocs or sandals except in the showers). If you would like to fish (optional), bring your own fishing gear; a fishing license is not required in state parks.

MEDICAL FORMS: Every youth and adult participant must have a BSA Medical Form (Parts A, B1, & B2) on file with our camp medic. If you turned in forms for the Fall campout, we still have them on file and they are good for 12 months. Otherwise, bring a hard copy of the completed med forms for each person and turn them in to a Pack leader upon arrival at the campout.

YOUTH PROTECTION: All adults staying overnight must complete online Youth Protection Training (YPT) before coming to the campout. This training must be repeated every two years, so if you have not taken it recently log in to My.Scouting.org to make sure your YPT certification is still valid and take or retake the training if necessary. There are additional new YPT requirements for adults staying overnight if they are not the parent or legal guardian of a Cub Scout (e.g., grandparent, aunt/uncle, sibling age 18+); if this applies to anybody who will be attending with your Cub Scout, please inform Pack leaders at least one week in advance so that we can take care of those additional requirements.

WEATHER CONTINGENCY: If we decide to cancel the campout due to weather, we'll let everyone know by Thursday 5:30 PM. We do not have alternate rain dates for the Spring Campout on the calendar, so in the unfortunate case we have to cancel, we will probably not reschedule. In any case, there is the option to attend the Council's Eclipse Extravaganza campout, April 6-8; see my previous email for details. (I was wrong about eclipse day passes being sold out; camping and day passes are both still available but don't delay because they are going quickly.)

SIGN UP INSTUCTIONS:

1. Go to the Pack's online store at https://cub-scout-pack-42...uare.site/

2. Find the "Meal Fee" store item and add it to your cart, increase the quantity for every person over the age of five, $10 each. Fill out additional questions as required.

3. Find the "SATURDAY NIGHT ONLY" tent fee store item and add it to your cart, $20 per tent. Fill out additional questions as required.

4. Optionally add the "FRIDAY NIGHT ONLY" tent fee store item to your cart, $20 per tent.

5. Navigate to your shopping cart and complete payment.

Make sure you get a confirmation email after you complete your order, and check that it includes the meal fee for each person and tent fee for each night you're camping.

That's it! If you have any questions, reach out to me.

2024 Blue & Gold Banquet

Our annual Blue & Gold Banquet will take place in 3 weeks on Sunday, February 25th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Covenant United Methodist Church. The event will feature a BBQ dinner from Rudy’s and our Arrow of Light scouts in a crossover ceremony. We’ll also celebrate our Pack’s achievements and the BSA’s birthday.

Scouts and kids 5 yrs and under eat for free! Meal tickets are only $10/plate for adults and non-scouts over 5. All scouts should attend in Class A uniforms. Friends and family are invited to join us as well. Please register and Prepay on the Pack's website by Feb 24th: 2024 Blue and Gold Dinner Tickets This will help us with planning the headcount for Rudy’s, and will make for a more efficient check-in process at the banquet. Cash/credit will also be accepted at the door.

Our dinner menu will include:

• BBQ brisket, turkey, and sausage

• Beans, potato salad, cole slaw

• Bread, pickles, peppers, onions

• PB&J and bread

• Iced tea, lemonade, and water

• Cupcakes!

It will be a special night for our Arrow of Light Scouts, our Pack, and all of our families. We look forward to seeing you there!

Pinewood Derby 2024

Join us for our annual Pinewood Derby.

When: Saturday, February 3, 9:30 AM - approx. 12:30 PM
Where: Davis Elementary School cafeteria

Concessions (breakfast tacos, donuts, coffee, pizza, snacks) will be available for purchase.

Car check-in is the night before (Fri., Feb. 2, 6:30-8:30 PM, Davis). Late check-in will be available on Saturday morning 7:30-8:30 AM. Late check-in closes 1 hour before race time.

See our Pinewood Derby Resources page for tips and rules.